Source: Aldeca Studio/Shutterstock.com
Source: Aldeca Studio/Shutterstock.com

Between 2022 and 2023, pure EV models increased their market share from 10% to 14.5%. However, it's clear the end of the EV subsidies had a big effect. While hybrid sales remained strong last year, new EV numbers plummeted. Just 7% of vehicles sold in 2025 were fully electric.

Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), which are now subject to road user charges, were also out of favour. Just 4658 PHEVs were registered in NZ last year, while non plug-in hybrid sales were strong, matching those of petrol vehicles.

However, over the first five months of 2026, EV and PHEV sales rebounded considerably. And, marking a tipping point, sales of vehicles with non plug-in hybrid engines (of which just over 1% were diesel) surpassed those of cars with traditional combustion engines:

Sales by Engine Type 2025

Sales by Engine Type 2026

40% Petrol

35% Non plug-in hybrid

40% Non plug-in hybrid

33% Petrol

8% Diesel

15% EV

7% EV

10% Plug-in hybrid

5% Plug-in hybrid

7% Diesel

Source: NZTA – 2026 sales to 31/05/26

So far this year, sales by engine type:

Non plug-in hybrids: 35% (14,894)

Top models include:

  • Toyota RAV4 (2165)
  • Toyota Corolla Cross (1185)
  • Kia Sportage (1024)

Petrol: 33% (13,547 sales)

Top models include:

  • Mitsubishi ASX (1534)
  • Mitsubishi Outlander (1058)
  • Kia Seltos (870)

EVs: 15% (6186 sales)

Top models include:

  • Tesla Model Y (1000)
  • Dongfeng Box (398)
  • BYD Atto 1 (391)

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle: 10% (3992 sales)

Top models include:

  • BYD Sealion 5 (365)
  • Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross (321)
  • GWM Haval H6 (294)

Diesel: 7% (2836 sales)

Top models include:

  • Ford Everest (1200)
  • Land Rover Defender (203)
  • Mitsubishi Pajero Sport (198)

Top selling EV models

As we mention above, so far this year EV sales have bounced back:

  • 2023: 21,032 EVs
  • 2024: 6341 EVs
  • 2025: 6871 EVs
  • 2026 (Jan-May): 6186 cars

And despite many new models hitting the market, such as the Dongfeng Box, the Tesla Model Y remains the country's most popular EV:

Rank

Top Selling EVs 2025

Top Selling EVs 2026

1

Tesla Model Y (1284)

Tesla Model Y (1000)

2

BYD Atto 3 (555)

Dongfeng Box (398)

3

Polestar 2 (354)

BYD Atto 1 (391)

4

BYD Sealion 7 (337)

BYD Atto 3 (295)

5

Tesla Model 3 (308)

BYD Atto 2 (288)

6

Kia EV5 (276)

Kia EV3 (267)

7

Kia EV3 (255)

BYD Sealion 7 (249)

8

BYD Dolphin (221)

Zeekr 7X (242)

9

Toyota BZ4X (192)

MG ZS (240)

10

BMW i  (176)

MG 4 (218)

11

Honda e:N1 (171)

Kia EV5 (177)

12

Mini Countryman (151)

MG S5 (173)

13

Omoda E5 (128)

Tesla Model 3 (170)

14

Geely EX5 | Mini Aceman (111)

Dongfeng Vigo (150)

15

Volvo EX30 (109)

Toyota BZ4X (135)

Source: NZTA – 2026 sales to 31/05/26

Bruce Pitchers is Canstar's NZ Editor. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the DrivenStuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery puzzle book 5 Minute Murder.


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